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Albany Pine Bush News

ALBANY NY – The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission and Friends of the Pine Bush Community will cohost an evening lecture at the Discovery Center on The World of Mosquitoes, presented by researcher and New York State Museum volunteer Gary Torrisi on March 17, 2016 at 7:00pm. This lecture is part of a monthly science lecture series presented by local scientists and the Commission’s expert staff.

Dr. Gary Torrisi is currently involved in a two-year survey of mosquito species in the Albany Pine Bush. Comparative results will be documented using archival specimens located at the Museum dating back to 1904-1905. Dr. Torrisi provides basic mosquito information that reflects global, US, and New York State data. In addition, he will review the historical influence that mosquitoes have played on human history, and discuss important diseases vectored by mosquitoes.

“I have been content to study mosquitoes in my quiet and confined world until zika. Now, I find myself absorbed in the concerns of the present world. Why not share with others what I have learned regarding the deadliest animal in the world,” says Torrisi.

Science Lecture Series programs are free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 15 and above, lecture series topics vary from tiger beetles, to wild turkeys, to climate research and more. Pre-registration is required for all programs. The Discovery Center is located at 195 New Karner Road in Albany. To sign up for programs, please visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events or call 518-456-0655.

The 3,200 – acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), located in New York’s Capital District, protects one of the best remaining inland pitch-pine scrub oak barrens in the world. This extraordinary fire-dependent habitat provides homes for many plants and animals and contains 63 New York State-designated wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. The Preserve is a National Natural Landmark, a New York State Unique Area, Bird Conservation Area and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Characterized by rolling sand dunes and miles of trails, the Preserve offers visitors many recreational opportunities including hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and canoeing. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a public-private partnership created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the APBP and provide the public with educational and recreational opportunities.

As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center is a state-of-the-art “green” certified interpretive center where visitors come to understand why the Pine Bush is rare and special. A visit to this unique destination is an exciting exploration where learning comes naturally through interactive exhibits, an outdoor Discovery Trail, and numerous programs on the ecology, natural history, cultural history and management of the Pine Bush. Admission to the Discovery Center is free (there is a small fee for programs). The Center is open daily weekdays 9am-4pm, weekends and most holidays 10am-4pm. For more information, visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.
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